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Show trums of a two-year-old indicate failure of your method. They simply sim-ply mean that the things the child wants to do are increasing faster than his ability to do them. So we shouldn't label a tempestuous two-year-old, determined to get the better of the things which balk him, as a bad-tempered child. This is the time, however, to double your efforts to teach him how to work out of his own difficulties diffi-culties insead of raising the roof. Be consistent about not giving in to him when he stages a disagreeable disagree-able scene. Use all your cleverness in suggesting another activity to take his mind off the thing you don't want him to do. By the time he can talk things out with you (usually at four or five) he is old enough to begin the lifelong lesson les-son of accepting necessary disappointments disap-pointments without bitterness. A great help in this is an example on your part of always looking for the humorous, the cheerful, the kindly aspect of the day's happenings. SUCCESSFUL PARENTHOOD p :J By MRS. CATHERINE a EDWARDS . , -.. "," jj Associate Editor. Faraafa Mnqailns IV. --"-. w" 3 MOTHERS SHOULD IiE CHEERFUL It may not be a pretty sight to see a squalling baby lashing out at everything within reach because he wants something. But it's a very healthy sign that the will to look after himself hasn't been left out of his nature. Never letting a baby have his way through howling might prevent pre-vent temper tantrums later on if this negative method didn't leave out of account two facts. First, that the baby has no other way to express his wants. Never picking him up, never going to him when he cries, might result, in a great deal of discomfort for the child, not to say danger. (Though of course we don't mean that you should spoil him by making a great fuss every time he whimpers.) whim-pers.) The second fact is, that instinct doesn't give up so easily and even if yelling doesn't succeed, suc-ceed, nevertheless the infant will use the same device again and again until he learns a better one. And therein lies the main solution solu-tion of this temper business. Teaching the child agreeable ways in which to make his wants known, in which to make himself feel important im-portant and liked is the business of parents. Busy mothers often attempt to do two hours' work in one' while the baby's quiet and go to him only after he has objected audibly to being alone. Try stopping for a few minutes' vfsit with him when you hear him gurgling contentedly so he'll learn that it doesn't take angry cries to bring you. Naturally this training can't be accomplished in a few months or even a few years. Nor do the tan- |